Fresh snow blankets higher reaches of U’khand, IMD sounds orange alert

Dehradun: Fresh snowfall swept higher reaches of Uttarakhand's Char Dham districts on Tuesday, while the plains and foothills received rain, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for large parts of the state, warning of heavy rain, snowfall and strong winds over the next two days.Light to moderate snowfall was witnessed in Uttarkashi, including Harsil, Gangotri and Yamunotri, while Kedarnath and nearby peaks in Rudraprayag also received fresh snow. Higher reaches of Chamoli saw snowfall as well, reviving wintry conditions across the upper Himalayas. Lower areas experienced cold and wet weather. In the plains, Dehradun received intermittent showers throughout the day, leading to cold-day conditions and a drop in temperatures. Similar light to moderate rainfall is likely in Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar, the weather office said.IMD said isolated spells of heavy rain and snowfall are expected in Uttarkashi, Dehradun, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Nainital, Bageshwar and Pithoragarh districts. A high wind-speed warning has also been issued for the next 24 hours, with gusts of 40-50 kmph expected at several places, particularly in exposed and high-altitude areas."The weather system remained sluggish overnight but became active during the day. Precipitation is likely to continue for the next couple of days, followed by gradual improvement," said C S Tomar, director of the regional meteorological centre.He said light rain and snowfall could persist in the higher reaches, while the plains may continue to see intermittent showers. Another western disturbance is likely towards the end of the month, bringing light to moderate rain and snowfall in areas above 2,800 metres, though with lower intensity, Tomar said.Meanwhile, Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment (DGRE) issued an avalanche alert for Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Pithoragarh and Bageshwar districts till Wednesday, advising caution in snowbound areas and along vulnerable routes.Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) has issued an advisory urging citizens to avoid unnecessary movement on snow-covered slopes and in avalanche-prone areas during the warning period. People have been cautioned not to halt beneath slopes during or after snowfall and advised to safely remove accumulated snow from rooftops, temporary shelters and cattle sheds. The advisory also urged those temporarily staying in high-altitude areas with heavy snowfall to move to safer, lower locations for one to two days, depending on ground conditions.Vinod Kumar Suman, secretary of disaster management and rehabilitation, said, "USDMA is closely monitoring the situation and will coordinate with all departments concerned to take necessary action."Uttarakhand last witnessed widespread rain and snowfall on Jan 23, marking the season's first significant winter precipitation.